LAKESHA BROWN HAWKINS
Park Forest
Summary
Healthcare professional with strong background in patient care and medical support. Known for collaborative work with medical teams to deliver high-quality care and adapt to evolving patient needs. Expertise in patient assessment and medication administration, along with compassionate care and reliability.
Overview
2
2
Languages
1
1
Certification
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Registered Nurse
Riverside Healthcare
Kankakee, IL
03.2026 - Current
- Administered medications and treatments following established protocols to optimize patient outcomes.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualized care plans.
- Provided patient-centered care, ensuring comfort and safety in diverse clinical settings.
- Mentored new nursing staff, fostering skills development and adherence to best practices.
- Educated patients and families on health management strategies to promote wellness and recovery.
- Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients'' acuity levels and individual needs.
- Assisted in the training and mentorship of new nursing staff members, contributing to a positive work environment and high-quality patient care.
- Skillfully managed challenging patient situations using de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention strategies, and therapeutic communication skills.
- Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
Registered Nurse
1st Advantage Home Health Care
Des Plaines, IL
06.2025 - Current
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement patient care plans.
- Monitored patient status, identifying changes and communicating findings to healthcare team.
- Educated patients and families on health management and preventive care strategies.
- Administered medications and treatments in accordance with established protocols.
- Provided support for patients'' families during difficult medical decisions or end-of-life care, serving as a liaison between the healthcare team and loved ones.
- Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use, and disease management.
- Facilitated patient transitions between different levels of care, ensuring continuity of services and minimizing disruptions in treatment plans.
- Implemented evidence-based fall prevention strategies, resulting in a significant decrease in patient falls within the unit.
- Demonstrated expertise in wound management techniques resulting in accelerated healing times for patients with complex wounds or pressure injuries.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans for complex cases.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
- Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
- Equipped patients with tools and knowledge needed for speedy and sustained recovery.
Psychiatric Nursing Assistant
Jesse Brown VA
Chicago, IL
10.2016 - 03.2026
- Evaluated patients to identify and address wounds, behavioral concerns and medically relevant symptoms.
- Provided immediate assistance in emergency and routine paging situations to assess patient needs and deliver targeted care.
- Monitored and communicated critical patient information to healthcare staff to enhance treatment planning and care delivery.
- Inspected resident belongings for safety and compliance during admission, prior to and during stays.
- Performed client intake procedures according to internal standards for all new admissions.
- Transported patients between rooms and appointments or testing locations.
- Applied interventions for clients wanting to leave against medical advice (AMA).
- Supported staff during emergency situations, ensuring professionalism and keen observational skills.
- Assisted nursing staff in implementing individualized care plans for patients with mental health disorders.
- Monitored patient behavior and reported significant changes to healthcare team promptly.
Certified Nursing Assistant
Manteno Veterans Home
09.2015 - 09.2016
- Delivered individualized patient care by recording vital signs, documenting observations, administering ROM treatments and evaluating patient needs.
- Gathered dietary information, assisted with feeding, and monitored intake to support patient wellness objectives.
- Facilitated activities of daily living, including personal hygiene management, feeding and ambulation.
- Delivered individualized patient care by recording vital signs, documenting observations, and administering ROM treatments to assess patient needs.
- Supported ambulation and physical therapy needs by conducting planned exercise routines.
- Conferred with multidisciplinary healthcare team to help effectively manage patient conditions with regular testing and vitals assessments.
- Facilitated activities of daily living, including personal hygiene, feeding, and ambulation to enhance patient comfort and independence.
- Assisted with daily care tasks for over [Number] residents in long-term care facility.
Phlebotomy Technician
Roseland Hospital
02.2014 - 08.2015
- Drew blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe or butterfly venipuncture methods.
- Collected blood samples using vacutainer tubes, tourniquets, syringes, butterfly needles, and straight needles.
- Communicated with patients to gather information for lab records, alleviating fear and enhancing cooperation.
- Clarified unusual test orders by coordinating with physicians, nursing stations, or reference laboratories.
- Spoke with patient to gather information for lab records, reduce fear or anxiety and optimize cooperation.
- Followed physician orders when administering therapeutic phlebotomy.
- Documented collected specimens by initialing, dating, and noting times of collection to ensure accurate tracking.
- Administered therapeutic phlebotomy according to physician orders.
- Organized and replenished phlebotomy cart with necessary supplies to ensure readiness for patient procedures.
- Performed bedside tests like bleeding time tests and entered results into patient charts.
Business Account Specialist
AT&T Inc.
09.2001 - 02.2013
- Documented customer habits and preferences, informing management of product and service updates to enhance customer experience.
- Maintained routine communication with clients to assess overall satisfaction, resolve complaints and promote new offerings.
- Maintained regular communication with clients to gauge satisfaction, address complaints, and promote new offerings, fostering long-term relationships.
- Liaised with customers, management and sales team to better understand customer needs and recommend appropriate solutions.
- Documented customer habits and preferences and recommended product and service updates to management.
- Completed routine and complex account updates to resolve problems.
- Adhered to standards of quality and service as well as all compliance requirements.
- Provided regular support for existing customer accounts on a regular basis to maximize revenue.
- Handled customer payment transactions efficiently and applied to customer balances.
- Used probing techniques to determine debtors' reasons for delinquency.
- Recorded all information regarding financial status of customers.
- Set up drafts and processed immediate payments after conducting thorough research and analysis of account.
- Discussed options with delinquent clients in terms of proposed solutions or foreclosures.
- Maintained a high volume of calls to meet demands of a busy group.
- Monitored accounts for compliance with established payment plans and flagged those in violation.
- Worked in call center environment handling manual and automatically dialed outbound calls.
- Negotiated to collect balance in full.
Education
Associate of Science - Nursing
Rasmussen University
Mokena, IL03-2024
Infusion Therapy
Symbria RX Services
Woodridge, IL07-2026
Skills
- Medication and IV administration
- Direct patient care
- Patient assessments
- Wound Care
Certification
Licensed Registered Nurse, Infusion Therapy
Languages
English
Full Professional
Timeline
Registered Nurse
Riverside Healthcare
03.2026 - Current
Registered Nurse
1st Advantage Home Health Care
06.2025 - Current
Psychiatric Nursing Assistant
Jesse Brown VA
10.2016 - 03.2026
Certified Nursing Assistant
Manteno Veterans Home
09.2015 - 09.2016
Phlebotomy Technician
Roseland Hospital
02.2014 - 08.2015
Business Account Specialist
AT&T Inc.
09.2001 - 02.2013
Infusion Therapy
Symbria RX Services
Associate of Science - Nursing
Rasmussen University